IN the latest of our reports on the state of grassroots football in Bolton, Marc Higginson looks at how a thriving junior scene could be the saviour of the Bolton Sunday League.
BOLTON Sunday League officials have welcomed proposals from the successful Bolton Bury and District Junior League to open dialogue on a possible link-up that could prove the saving grace for open age football in the town.
One of the main reasons for the demise of amateur leagues in the town has been the lack of players progressing from junior football to open age football.
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However, with such a thriving junior set-up in the town, there is talk of establishing a link-up between the Bolton Sunday League and the Bolton Bury and District Junior League to safeguard football's future in the town.
"We would certainly go along with that," said Bolton Sunday League chairman David Farnworth, who has worked tirelessly at the helm for 21 years. It would be great to have a feeder league. A few years ago we tried to set up our own junior league but there wasn't much interest.
"We would happily work alongside the junior leagues.
"Kids don't want to come through to the Sunday League because they think it's a pub league. They think everyone wants to cripple them.
"It's not like that. There are one or two rough teams, but we are kicking them out."
Warren Barlow, general secretary of the successful Bolton Bury and District Junior League, says that in contrast to what is happening in other leagues, his will be looking to form an adult league within four or five years.
Barlow says football is booming in the town and is willing to work with other competitions, like the Bolton Sunday League, to help them overcome their problems.
He said: "The ultimate aim is to form an adult league. Our teams now go up to under-14s and that increases every year and we would like to work with the Bolton Sunday League in the future.
"We are confident that whatever happens to the Sunday League we will have a thriving adult league in the future."
The success of the league has meant pitches at full capacity on Saturdays and forced them to apply for Sunday games.
Barlow added: "At the moment we are a Saturday league, but we have requested to play Sundays as that allows us to spread ourselves more as the pitches are at full capacity on Saturday but not on a Sunday because the Bolton Boys Fed and Bolton Sunday league are losing teams.
"We would try and get our older teams playing on a Sunday.
"We have 350 teams, which equates to about 4,000 players and we are confident this will double.
"It has a massive knock-on effect on the standard of play. It shows with the number of kids that go through the Bolton Wanderers Academy. It also means we have more coaches.
"Football is booming in the town because there are so many level one coaches who want to get involved in football. It means we are having more teams starting at a younger level. It brings more kids into the game at an early age and raises the skill level."
Barlow, however, refutes suggestions that there is a real problem within the game where referees are being constantly abused.
"I am a referee in the Lancashire Amateur League and I don't think the problem is as bad as it is made out," said Barlow. "There shouldn't be a situation where a league has teams that certain referees will not take charge of. Those teams should not be in the league.
"It is all about raising standards and if that means cutting the number of teams so that they are quality teams, then so be it. It is all about how you sell the league.
"We have never fined anybody because we push for a friendly atmosphere. We warn teams, deduct points off them and potentially say you are not welcome in our league'. Teams don't want to hear that and it solves the problem and we get a much better atmosphere in the league."
lNext week: How the Bolton Boys Fed are facing up their battle for survival
Posted by: Gaz Brooks, Bolton on 2:30pm Wed 9 Apr 08
Thanks to the Bolton News for highlighting the excellent work of the Bolton & Bury Junior League.
Both of my sons play in this league for Oxford Grove JFC and I can't speak highly enough of the way the league is run.
The Bolton & Bury league is growing because it's forward thinking and works with it's member clubs.
I'm convinced that, within a few years, this will become one of the best amateur leagues in the country offering girls, junior and open age football on both Saturdays & Sundays.
Well done to everyone involved.
I'm sure the future of local grassroots football is safe with the Bolton & Bury Junior League.
Thanks to the Bolton News for highlighting the excellent work of the Bolton & Bury Junior League.
Both of my sons play in this league for Oxford Grove JFC and I can't speak highly enough of the way the league is run.
The Bolton & Bury league is growing because it's forward thinking and works with it's member clubs.
I'm convinced that, within a few years, this will become one of the best amateur leagues in the country offering girls, junior and open age football on both Saturdays & Sundays.
Well done to everyone involved.
I'm sure the future of local grassroots football is safe with the Bolton & Bury Junior League.
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